RA for All Roadshow Visits Tampa Bay Library Consortium-- Day 1: General RA Training

Today I will be spending the day with a group of library workers who have come together from various libraries throughout TBLC for a day of general RA training at the Oldsmar [FL] Public Library.

Feel free to follow along whether or not you are attending.

Here is the full schedule with slide access.

9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.-- RA for All: Readers Advisory belongs in every library, no matter its budget. The implementation of this vital service is the responsibility of every staff member-- from pages to directors, from those behind the scenes to the ones on the front lines. This program will remove the mystery behind providing great RA service. Using her “Ten Rules of Basic RA Service” as a guide, Becky Spratford will use your own love of your favorite books to show you how to help any patron find their next great read. It's not as hard as you think. But more importantly, you will learn why a staff that can harness the power of sharing a great read will become a stronger team and improve service to all patrons. This Session will also include-- Creating Your Own Reader Profile: Becky will help you take what you have learned to craft your own personal reader profile and start you on your first RA journey-- suggesting a good book to a fellow staff member.

• Presentation follows Becky's 10 Rules of Basic RA Service
• Reader Profile Form

11 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.-- BREAK

11:15 a.m. -- 12:15 p.m.-- Booktalking: Harnessing the Power of Sharing Books with Patrons: Booktalking is at the heart of what we do with patrons each and every day at the public library. Whether we are sharing books informally at the services desk, presenting a prepared list of books, or posting information online, talking about books is something we do each and every day. It is a core service, but it is also hard to teach. Booktalking is more of an art than a skill, but with the right guidance and some practice, it can go a long way toward engaging your patrons and re-energizing your staff. Join experienced Readers’ Advisory Becky Spratford as she shares the secret behind delivering great book talks, giving you tips and tricks you can begin using right away to hone your own skills. Rediscover the power and joy that comes from sharing books with patrons.

• Slides

12:15 p.m. --1:30 p.m. -- Lunch

1:30 p.m. -- 2:30 p.m. -- RA Rethink: The Displays Edition:

Becky Spratford brings the display portion of her popular new “RA Rethink” series to you. In this presentation Becky will show you how to “rethink” your displays to make them more engaging for patrons without increasing your workload; in fact, she will help you to create better displays in half the time. While Becky will provide many examples and suggestions, this training will be highly interactive. Participation is expected with the goal of you leaving the session with a few display ideas all set and ready to be put out immediately.

• Slides

2:30 p.m. -- 2:45 p.m.-- BREAK

2:45 p.m. -- 3:30-- Networking, Troubleshooting, and Success Sharing

To end the day Becky will lead a discussion of local RA issues, concerns, and questions. She will answer your library specific questions and encourage the group to work together to look for solutions, both today, and going forward into into the future. Remember, you can do much more working together than you can possible do alone, so let’s start combining forces today to tackle more, together, tomorrow.